ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Using five players in double-digit scoring, and a 15-2 first-half-closing run, the Illinois State Redbirds ran past the Missouri State Bears by a 70-54 final score in the opening round of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Johnny Kinziger led the way for ISU with 13 points – all in the first half – as he made 3-of-5 shots from long range while also pulling down six rebounds and giving out three assists. Dalton Banks scored a dozen points for the Birds, while also dishing out eight assists – including the 400th of his college basketball career. He also climbed into a tie of sixth place in the school single-season record book in steals with 57, grabbing two against the Bears.

Chase Walker flirted with a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Malachi Poindexter and Landon Wolf scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Cameron Barnes blocked a career-high two shots for ISU, who had a season-high six rebounds in the contest.

The Redbirds return to the Enterprise Center on Friday afternoon – again at 2:30 p.m. – to face off against the Belmont Bruins.

Missouri State started the game strong, and led by as many as six points early, and led by five at 14-9 with 12:57 to play in the first half. The Redbirds immediately responded with a 7-0 run to take a four-point lead and would not give up their advantage for the remainder of the game. ISU had an 11-0 run late in the half and closed the opening period on a 15-2 run to lead 38-23 at the halftime break.

In the second half ISU extended its lead to as many as 22 with 2:06 to play in the game, before the Bears scored the final six points of the game as the Redbirds emptied their bench.

For the 17th time this season ISU has made at least half of its field goal attempts, making 26-of-51 (51.0%) against the Bears, while making 10-of-23 (43.5%) from long range. Missouri State was held to a field goal percentage of 34.5, the lowest allowed by a Division I school against the Birds this season.

Missouri State got 10 points each from Michael Osei-Bonsu and Vincent Brady II.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Illinois State used the starting lineup of 0 Jack Daugherty, 3 Dalton Banks, 5 Jordan Davis, 11 Johnny Kinziger, and 35 Chase Walker
  • It is the third time this season that ISU has used this starting lineup combination
• Missouri State won the opening tip
• Chase Walker scored the first basket for the Redbirds on a free throw with 18:36 to play in the first half
  • It was his 13th time this season scoring the first points of the game for ISU
• Illinois State led 38-23 at halftime
• ISU's 20 assists are tied for the second-most in program history in an MVC Tournament game
• The Redbirds had five players reach double-figure scoring for the sixth time this season
• ISU has held an opponent to 54 points or less in back-to-back games for the first time since the Redbirds did it on February 22 (Southern Illinois) and 25 (Northern Iowa) at the end of the 2016-17 regular season

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Malachi Poindexter
  • Reached double-figure scoring for the ninth time this season, and 36th time in his collegiate career
  • Has made multiple three-pointers 12 times this year, and 40 times in his career
• Dalton Banks
  • Eclipsed the 400 career assist mark in the first half
  • Scored 12 points for his 17th game with double-figure scoring this season, and his fifth straight game being over double-figure scoring
  • With his two steals he now has 57 this season, and he climbed two spots in the single-season record books, passing Tarise Bryson (56 in 2000-01), and moving into a tie with Ron Jones (57 in 1976-77)
  • Dished out a game-high eight assists, the ninth time this season he has given out five or more assists in a game this season
• Landon Wolf
  • Scored 10 points – all in the second half – for his 10th game this season with double-digit points, and the 24th of his career
  • Made multiple three-pointers for the 12th time this season
• Johnny Kinziger
  • Led the Redbirds in scoring for the ninth time this season, scoring 13 points in the win
  • Scored in double-figures for the 26th time this season, and 39th time in his career
  • Made multiple three-pointers for the 23rd time this season
• Ty Pence
  • Finished a point away from double-digits with nine points, as he made 4-of-5 field goals
• Cameron Barnes
  • Set a career-high with two blocked shots and tied his career-high with two assists
• Chase Walker
  • Scored in double-figures for the 23rd time this season
  • Led ISU in rebounds with nine, the 15th time this season he has led the Redbirds in rebounds

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